Fabric spreading and feeding machine

ABSTRACT

A sheet spreading and feeding apparatus wherein the front corners of a sheet are temporarily secured to a station gate which is movable into a loading position wherein the secured corners are transferred to clamping means associated with respective spreading arms for spreading the sheet and depositing the same on feed rollers for carrying the sheet over wrinkleremoving means to an ironer. In a preferred embodiment the sheet spreading means comprises two arm assemblies operated in unison. Each assembly includes a pair of articulately interconnected arms continuously driven in a sequential order by a suitably supported chain drive arrangement so that after one arm has operated to spread a corner of the sheet depositing it on the feed rollers, the other arm and its associated clamping means is positioned for receiving the corner of a subsequent sheet delivered from a second station gate.

Uited States Patent 1191 S j ostrom 1 Oct. 14, 1975 [75] Inventor: Robert L. Sjostrom, Boca Raton,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: Kathleen Alice Sjostrom, Boca Raton, Fla.

22 Filed: Jan. 20, 1975 21 Appl.No.:542,353

[52] US. Cl. 38/143 [51] Int. Cl. D06F 67/04 [58] Field of Search 270/61 R, 66,86; 271/45,

271/49, 51-53, 59, 54, 63, 46, 66, 79; 26/D1G. l, 54, 51, 57 R, 62 R, 62 B; 38/143, 2; 214/1 L; 69/1; 28/1 E, 15; 198/102, 175

Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or F irmWolf, Greenfield & Sacks [57] ABSTRACT A sheet spreading and feeding apparatus wherein the front corners of a sheet are temporarily secured to a station gate which is movable into a loading position wherein the secured corners are transferred to clamping means associated with respective spreading arms for spreading the sheet and depositing the same on feed rollers for carrying the sheet over wrinkleremoving means to an ironer. In a preferred embodiment the sheet spreading means comprises two arm assemblies operated in unison. Each assembly includes a pair of articulately interconnected arms continuously driven in a sequential order by a suitably supported chain drive arrangement so that after one arm has operated to spread a corner of the sheet depositing it on the feed rollers, the other arm and its associated clamping means is positioned for receiving the comer of a subsequent sheet delivered from a second station gate.

21 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 311661 1 OfZ 3,911,604

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,911,604

FABRIC SPREADING AND FEEDING MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a machine for spreading and feeding a sheet material. More particularly, the presenting invention relates to a spreading and feeding machine for relatively large textile sheets in the order of magnitude in size of bed sheets. The machine of this invention is capable of performing at the same or a higher rate of operation than existing machines which are significantly more costly.

A typical prior art machine for spreading and feeding sheet material is disclosed in either U.S. Pat. No. 3,376,036 or US Pat. No. 3,421,756. There are generally many problems associated with machines of the type disclosed in-these two patents. For example, these machines are generally quite costly to build and are quite complex in construction. As a result, the maintenance of these machines is sometimes difficult and costly. Moreover, due to the size of the machines, there is a need to provide excess operating areas for these machines. Another disadvantage associated with known machines is that they do not operate as efficiently as is desired. For example, if the sheets are not introduced into the machine properly they may be dropped from the machine. Also, because of the mode in which the sheets are fed to these machines, it is difficult to view the entire sheet for any stains or tears that may be in the sheet prior to it being spread.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved spreading and feeding machine preferably for use with relatively large sheets in the order of magnitude in size of bed sheets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine in accordance with the preceding object for spreading and smoothing sheets and delivering the sheets to receiving apparatus such as a continuous ironer or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine in accordance with the preceding objects that is relatively inexpensive in comparison with known prior art machines, and that is not as complex in operation as these prior art machines. The machine of the present invention is therefore also relatively easy to maintain and is inherently free of many of the problems associated with the prior art machines.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for feeding, spreading and smoothing relatively large sheets wherein the machine is not overly large in comparison to known machines.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding and spreading machine preferably for relatively large sheets of bed sheet size wherein the spreading operation is accomplished effectively and wherein it is virtually impossible to drop sheets from the machine. The machine of the present invention also receives sheets in a manner so that they can be viewed for any stains or tears that may be associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a machine for feeding, spreading and smoothing preferably large textile sheets in the order of magnitude in. size of bed sheets which are fed to a receiving apparatus such as a continuous ironer or the like. The machine of the present invention generally comprises belt means having an upper surface to receive successively said sheets in spread condition, means for actuating the belt means to carry sheets fed thereon in a rearward direction, a pair of arm assemblies, means for pivotally supporting each arm assembly above the belt means for movement from a position substantially parallel to the direction of movement to a position substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the belt means thereby spreading the sheet, and clamp means associated with each arm assembly for releasably engaging adjacent corners of a sheet. Each clamp means is preferably slidably supported and adapted for movement along a length of its associated arm assembly in a section adjacent the free end thereof.

In one embodiment each arm assembly includes an arm and means for pivoting the end of the arm from a sheet engaging position forward of the forward end of the belt means to a sheet releasing position over the belt means, and means sequentially actuating the clamp means to clamp a sheet in the clamp engaging position, actuating the pivoting means to pivot the arms to the sheet releasing position, and releasing the clamping means to release the sheet in the sheet releasing position.

One feature of the present invention is the use of a pair of station gates which are alternately movable preferably by two operators into a central loading position wherein the sheets may be transferred from the station gate to the clamping means associated with the elongated arms. In order to assist in removing the sheet from each of the station gates, a blowing means may be associated therewith. The front part of the machine may include guiding means for guiding sheets engaged by the clamp means onto the belt means. There may also be provided additional blowing means associated with these guide means for assisting in the transfer of the sheet from the station gate to the belt means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention each of the arm assemblies includes a pair of articulately interconnected arms continuously driven in a sequential order by a suitably supported chain drive arrangement so that after one arm has operated to spread a corner of the sheet depositing it on the feed rollers, the other arm and its associated clamping means is positioned for receiving a corner of the subsequent sheet delivered from a second station gate. With this type of an arrangement it is not necessary for the spreading arms to be operated rapidly from a sheet releasing position to a sheet receiving position as is the case when only a single set of arms is used. The use of two pairs of articularly interconnected arms provides for smooth continuous operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Numerous other objects, features and advantages will now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fabric spreading and feeding machine in accordance with the present invention and showing one sheet after it has been spread and deposited on the belt means. and a second sheet about to be moved to the loading position for engagement by the awaiting clamping means; 7

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1 showing one of the station gates in the loading position with the clamping means engaging the corners of a sheet;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1 showing the just loaded sheet being spread with its leading edge deposited on the belt means;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view showing a sheet being retained by a station gate and ready to be received by the clamping means of the machine;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 4A with the sheet being transferred from the retaining clips at the station gate to the clamping means of the machine; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the arm assemblies used in the machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION One embodiment of a fabric spreading and feeding machine is shown in the perspective view of FIG. I and includes a base platform having vertical support walls 12 and 14 extending therefrom, station gates 16 and 18, spreading means 20, and belt means 22.

The station gates 16 and 18 may be identical to each other and in FIG. 1 only the station gate 16 has a sheet 24 retained thereby. Each of these station gates includes a pivot arm 25, a vertical support arm 27, holding bar 28, and clip pairs 29 and 30. The pivot arm 25 of gate 16, for example, moves in an arc from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2 by control means not shown in the drawings. This control means may be operated by an operator of the machine by depressing the appropriate button of button box 32. Box 33 controls movement of gate 18. In the sequence of operation the station gate 16 is pivoted by its associated pivot arm 25 into the loading position as indicated in FIG. 2. Subsequently, after the sheet 24 from station gate 16 has been loaded, the station gate swings back by means of its pivot arm 25 and the other station gate 18 is moved into the loading position.

Each of the station gates also comprises a frame 34 having a bottom continuous portion 34A, upstanding legs 34B and top portion 34C. The vertical arm 27 connects at its bottom end to pivot arm 25 and intercouples by means of a cylinder 36 to holding bar 28. Cylinder 36 is selectively actuated by the control means which may be contained in box 31, to drop the holding bar 28 after the station gate has assumed the loading position and the clamping means has clamped the corners of the sheet held between the clip pairs 29 and 30. The holding bar 28 preferably drops 10 to 12 inches after the sheet has been clamped. A separate button of the appropriate button box may be depressed for causing clamping and subsequent sheet release.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the specific manner in which the corners of the sheet is clamped is discussed. FIG. 4A shows the clips 29 and 30 into which the corners of the sheet are secured by the operator of the machine. FIG. 4A also shows the clamps and 42 which are also shown in FIGS. 13. In the position shown in FIG. 4A, the clamps have not been actuated and thus the clamp discs 44 and 45 are separated. During the sequence of operation the clamps 40 and 42, as shown in FIG. 4B, are then both actuated and the corners of the sheet are firmly held between the discs 44 and 45 of each clamping means. The station gate must be in position before the clamping means are actuated by way of either box 32 or 33. The control means also controls the next sequence of operation which includes the actuation of cylinder 36 for dropping the holding bar 48 thereby causing the clips 29 and 30 to open, effectively transferring the corners of the sheet from the station gate to the clamping means of the invention.

The top portion 34C of the frame 34 may be provided with a plurality of air holes which face the sheet 24 when in the loading position such as indicated in FIG. 1 at station gate 16. Suitable air blowing means are connected to the air pipes formed by top portion 34C and the machine is controlled so that as soon as the station gate is in position to release the sheet to the clamp means air is introduced to the air pipes to cause the sheet to be blown away from the station gate thereby facilitating the removal of the sheet from the station gate and onto the belt means 22.

The machine shown in FIG. 1 also includes a pair of spreading arms 48 and 49 which are generally horizontally disposed and connected at one end to vertically extending walls 12 and 14, respectively. Each of these arms also include a generally vertical portion 48A and 49A, respectively, which connect at their bottom end to base platform 10. Air pipes 50 and 51 suitably connect to a source of compressed air and are disposed along the spreading arms 48 and 49, respectively, as shown. These air pipes are also actuated once the clamps 40 and 42 have clamped the sheet to thereby cause the sheet to be thrown forwardly and upwardly to facilitate the feeding of the sheet onto the belt means 22.

A pair of rollers which may be referred to as holddown rollers 52 and 54 are disposed at the forward end of the belt means 42 and are useful in holding the sheet in a spread condition as the sheet is transferred rearwardly on the belt means. These rollers 52 and 54 have actuating means associated therewith and discussed in more detail hereinafter, for lifting these rollers as the sheet is spread.

The belt means may be of generally conventional design and includes a plurality of spaced belts 56 suitably supported at at least two locations for rotation either continuously or selectively in a rearward direction. In FIG. 1 the sheet 24 is shown disposed on the plurality of spaced belts 56. FIG. 1 also shows a doffer roll 58 which is used to positively engage the sheet 24. A cylinder 59 may be used for selectively moving the doffer roll 58 to different positions over the belt means 22. Suction means may be provided in association with the belts preferably at the forward edge thereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention the clamps 40 and 42 are carried by a single pair of spreading arms 60 and 62, respectively. With this type of an arrangement, the clamps 40 and 42 receive the corners of a sheet from one of the station gates 16 or 18, the arms 60 and 62 are spread arcuately and outwardly until the arms are generally aligned with each other, the clamps are released, and the arms are returned to their initial position wherein a sheet from the other station gate is received by the clamps 40 and 42.

However, in a preferred embodiment, each of the arms is replaced by an arm assembly each of which includes a pair of articulately interconnected arms as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5 and as also indicated in FIG. 3. The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. With this preferred arrangement, one pair of arms 60 and 62 associated with different assemblies may be initially considered as in the position shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 the station gate 16 has moved to the loading position, and the clamps 40 and '42 have engaged the comers of a sheet held by the station gate 16. After the clamps 40 and 42 have engaged the corners of the sheet the sheet is spread by means of the movement of arms 60 and 62 arcuately and outwardly. FIG. 3 shows the clamps 40 and 42 spreading and depositing the sheet 24 at the forward end of the belt means 22. It is noted that FIG. 3 also shows the second pair of arms 64 and 66 and their associated clamps 68 and 70 which are proceeding forwardly as the sheet 24 is spread rearwardly. These arms 64 and 66 do not interfere with the movement of the sheet rearwardly as they are disposed slightly thereabove. As the sheet 24 is spread and conveyed rearwardly the rollers 52 and 54 however are caused to be moved upwardly as shown in FIG. 3 by associated cylinder means so that the arms 60 and 62 can swing by these holddown rollers and release the sheet subsequently onto the belt means 22. After the arms pass the rollers, the rollers are then caused to be released and hold the sheet firmly against the belts 56.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown one of the arm assemblies which include the two arms 60 and 64, for example, and their associated clamps 40 and 68, respectively. Each of these arms include means for biasing the clamps toward the free ends of the arms 60 and 68. The fixed ends of the arms are coupled to articulating member 72. The arm 60, for example, comprises a pair of rails 74 for carrying a carriage 76 which has the clamp 40 suitably supported therein. A weight 78 is fixed at the or near the fixed end of arm 40 and is connected by means of a cable 80 and a pulley 81 to one end of carriage76. The cable 80 is biased by spring means 82 and the weight 78 so that the carriage 76 is maintained when it is not engaging'a sheet at the free end of arm 60. A similar arrangement is also used to form the arm 64 and clamp 68.

Each of the arms 60 and 64 includes an attaching bracket 84 and 86, respectively, which is coupled at the appropriate point to chain 88. The chain 88 is suitably supported by four pulleys 89, one of which is a drive pulley. The articulating arm 72 is pivoted by pivot member 72A and is free to rotate thereabout. The pivot member 72A is not aligned at the center point defined by the four pulleys 89 which are arranged in a diamond shape, but is slightly off center as indicated in FIG. 5. As the chain 88 is driven in the direction indicated by arrow 90 it is seen that the arm 60 with its clamp 40 closed can be spreading a sheet while the arm 64 with its clamp 68 open is being moved into position for receiving the next sheet.

I claim:

1. A feeder spreader for feeding, spreading and smoothing large textile sheets in the order of magnitude in size in bedsheets to receiving apparatus such as continuous ironers or the like comprising,

belt means having an upper surface to receive successively fed sheets in spread condition,

means for actuating said belt means to carry sheets fed thereon in a rearward direction,

a pair of elongated arms,

means pivotally supporting said pair of elongated arms above said belt means for movement between a position substantially parallel and in a position at an acute angle to the direction of movement of said .belt means,

-a pair of clamp means for releasably engaging adjacent comers of a textile sheet,

means slidably supporting said clamp means, one 5 each to .each of said arms, each for movement along a length of one of said arms in a section adjacent a free end thereof,

means for pivoting the. free ends of said arms from a sheet engaging position forward of the forward end of said belt means over opposed arcs to a sheet releasing position over said belt means, and

means sequentially actuating said clamp means to clamp a sheet in said clamp engaging position, said pivoting means to pivot said arms to said sheet releasing position and said clamping means to release said sheet in said sheet releasing position.

2. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 1 including means for applying a suction along a transverse section of sheets adjacent the forward edge of said belt means.

3. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 2 including a spreader bar for spreading sheets drawn thereover positioned forwardly of the forward end of said belt means. i

4. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 3 wherein said belt means includes a plurality of endless parallel belts having an upper surface over which said sheets are drawn and a dof'fer roll extending over said endless belt means, and

means for moving said doffer roll forwardly over sheets released by said clamp means onto said upper surfaces of said belt means for pressing said sheets against said upper surfaces of said endless belts.

5. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means supporting each of said clamp means comprise a carriage,rails supporting said carriage on one of said arms for movement lengthwise thereof, and

means for normally urging said carriage means toward the free ends of saidarms.

6. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said clamp means comprises a pair of parallel clamp plates adapted to be moved toward one another to engage a corner of a sheet therebetween, and

fluid actuated means for closing and opening said clamp means.

7. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for normally urging said carriage means each comprise a weight, a cable connected at one end to said carriage means adjacent the side closest to the free end of said arm upon which the carriage means is mounted and at the other end connected to said weight with said weight effecting a constant force on said carriage means toward the free end of the arm upon which it is mounted.

8. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 1 including means for presenting a plurality of sheets alternately to said pair of clamp means comprising,

a plurality of means for securingand supporting sections of a sheet at adjacent comers,

means for moving said plurality of sheet securing and supporting means to and away from positions for engagement of sheets carried thereby by said clamping means, and

means for actuating said moving means for movement of only one of said plurality of sheet securing and supporting means at a time.

9. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for moving each of said sheet securing and supporting means each comprises a vertically extending support for supporting at the upper end thereof said sheet securing and supporting means, 1

a laterally extending arm secured at one end 'to the lower end of said support and pivotally secured at the other end and means for pivoting saidarm to carry said support to and from a; position whereby said sheet securing and supporting means are positioned for engagement of sheets carried'thereby by said clamp means when in a sheet engaging position. 10. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 9 including means for supporting a pair of said means for moving therebetween, saidclamp means adapted to engage sheets in said non-engaged portion and remove said sheet from said sheet-engaging elements. l2. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 11 including guide means for guiding sheets engaged by said clamp means over said means for securing and supportmg. H V

I3. Afeeder spreader as set forth in claim 8 comprisi'n'gmeans for causing said means for securing and supporting to be displaced when at the position wherein said sheet is to be received by said clamping means to thereby permit release of said sheet from said securing and supporting means to said clamping means after said clamping means has retained said sheet.

- 14. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 1 having a pair of elongated sheet guides,

means supporting said guides in a rearwardly diverging arrangement with the adjacent ends thereof positioned forward of said belt means and below said clamp means when said clamp means are positioned in an initial sheet engaging position.

15. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 14 wherein said guides include a downwardly extending portion at said adjacent ends. g y

'16. A feeder spreader comprising means forreleasably engagingadjacent comers of a textile sheet at a first position in, closely spaced relation,

1 means for angularly diverging said corner engaging means from said first to a second position, I

means for releasing said corner engaging means in said second position, v belt means positioned below said corner engaging means to receive sheets released therefrom, means for driving said belt means for conveying sheets from said comer engaging means, means for guiding and spreading trailing portions of a sheet carried by said corner engaging means over said belt means. l i 17; A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guiding and spreading means includes a pair of elongated guides, and

means supporting said guides in a rearwardly diverging arrangement with the spread apart ends adjacent opposite sides of said belt means.-

18. A feeder spreader as set forthin claim 16 wherein 'said means for angularly diverging includes a pair of arm assemblies one associated with each corner of the sheet.

19. A feeder spreader asset forth in claim 18 wherein each arm assembly includes a pair of articulately interconnected arms each having corner engaging means associated therewith and one of whichis spreading a sheet as the other is being positioned to receive a subsequent sheet. I I r 1 Y Y,

20. Afeeder spreader as set forth in claim 19 including a drive mechanism having means for securing both arms at opposite points therealong. i

21. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 20 wherein said drive mechanism is a chain drive suitably supported andincluding an articulating arm interconnecting the two spreader arms. 

1. A feeder spreader for feeding, spreading and smoothing large textile sheets in the order of magnitude in size in bedsheets to receiving apparatus such as continuous ironers or the like comprising, belt means having an upper surface to receive successively fed sheets in spread condition, means for actuating said belt means to carry sheets fed thereon in a rearward direction, a pair of elongated arms, means pivotally supporting said pair of elongated arms above said belt means for movement between a position substantially parallel and in a position at an acute angle to the direction of movement of said belt means, a pair of clamp means for releasably engaging adjacent corners of a textile sheet, means slidably supporting said clamp means, one each to each of said arms, each for movement along a length of one of said arms in a section adjacent a free end thereof, means for pivoting the free ends of said arms from a sheet engaging position forward of the forward end of said belt means over opposed arcs to a sheet releasing position over said belt means, and means sequentially actuating said clamp means to clamp a sheet in said clamp engaging position, said pivoting means to pivot said arms to said sheet releasing position and said clamping means to release said sheet in said sheet releasing position.
 2. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 1 including means for applying a suction along a transverse section of sheets adjacent the forward edge of said belt means.
 3. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 2 including a spreader bar for spreading sheets drawn thereover positioned forwardly of the forward end of said belt means.
 4. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 3 wherein said belt means includes a plurality of endless parallel belts having an upper surface over which said sheets are drawn and a doffer roll extending over said endless belt means, and means for moving said doffer roll forwardly over sheets released by said clamp means onto said upper surfaces of said belt means for pressing said sheets against said upper Surfaces of said endless belts.
 5. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means supporting each of said clamp means comprise a carriage, rails supporting said carriage on one of said arms for movement lengthwise thereof, and means for normally urging said carriage means toward the free ends of said arms.
 6. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said clamp means comprises a pair of parallel clamp plates adapted to be moved toward one another to engage a corner of a sheet therebetween, and fluid actuated means for closing and opening said clamp means.
 7. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for normally urging said carriage means each comprise a weight, a cable connected at one end to said carriage means adjacent the side closest to the free end of said arm upon which the carriage means is mounted and at the other end connected to said weight with said weight effecting a constant force on said carriage means toward the free end of the arm upon which it is mounted.
 8. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 1 including means for presenting a plurality of sheets alternately to said pair of clamp means comprising, a plurality of means for securing and supporting sections of a sheet at adjacent corners, means for moving said plurality of sheet securing and supporting means to and away from positions for engagement of sheets carried thereby by said clamping means, and means for actuating said moving means for movement of only one of said plurality of sheet securing and supporting means at a time.
 9. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for moving each of said sheet securing and supporting means each comprises a vertically extending support for supporting at the upper end thereof said sheet securing and supporting means, a laterally extending arm secured at one end to the lower end of said support and pivotally secured at the other end and means for pivoting said arm to carry said support to and from a position whereby said sheet securing and supporting means are positioned for engagement of sheets carried thereby by said clamp means when in a sheet engaging position.
 10. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 9 including means for supporting a pair of said means for moving said sheets to a position intermediate said clamp means when said clamp means are in a sheet-engaging position.
 11. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for securing sections of a sheet includes a horizontal member having a pair of sheet-engaging elements spaced apart, each of said pair of sheet-engaging elements comprising means for removably engaging spaced portions of a sheet with a non-engaged portion therebetween, said clamp means adapted to engage sheets in said non-engaged portion and remove said sheet from said sheet-engaging elements.
 12. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 11 including guide means for guiding sheets engaged by said clamp means over said means for securing and supporting.
 13. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 8 comprising means for causing said means for securing and supporting to be displaced when at the position wherein said sheet is to be received by said clamping means to thereby permit release of said sheet from said securing and supporting means to said clamping means after said clamping means has retained said sheet.
 14. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 1 having a pair of elongated sheet guides, means supporting said guides in a rearwardly diverging arrangement with the adjacent ends thereof positioned forward of said belt means and below said clamp means when said clamp means are positioned in an initial sheet engaging position.
 15. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 14 wherein said guides include a downwardly extending portion at said adjacent ends.
 16. A feeder spreader comprising means for releasably engaging adjacent corners of a textile sheet at a first position in cloSely spaced relation, means for angularly diverging said corner engaging means from said first to a second position, means for releasing said corner engaging means in said second position, belt means positioned below said corner engaging means to receive sheets released therefrom, means for driving said belt means for conveying sheets from said corner engaging means, means for guiding and spreading trailing portions of a sheet carried by said corner engaging means over said belt means.
 17. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guiding and spreading means includes a pair of elongated guides, and means supporting said guides in a rearwardly diverging arrangement with the spread apart ends adjacent opposite sides of said belt means.
 18. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for angularly diverging includes a pair of arm assemblies one associated with each corner of the sheet.
 19. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 18 wherein each arm assembly includes a pair of articulately interconnected arms each having corner engaging means associated therewith and one of which is spreading a sheet as the other is being positioned to receive a subsequent sheet.
 20. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 19 including a drive mechanism having means for securing both arms at opposite points therealong.
 21. A feeder spreader as set forth in claim 20 wherein said drive mechanism is a chain drive suitably supported and including an articulating arm interconnecting the two spreader arms. 